Wheatgrass Fad or Hack?
Whether in your local juice bar or when buying treats for your cat, you’ve probably heard of wheatgrass. But as the juice bar says, wheatgrass isn’t just ‘cat grass’, but potentially the new star of naturopathic health. We here at Agape Nutrition will give you a comprehensive overview of wheatgrass, so you can decide for yourself whether this spindly green plant is right for you!
What is Wheatgrass?
Surprise, surprise, wheatgrass actually isn’t grass. It is merely the leaves of young wheat, cut and used in drinks as a health supplement.
According to Healthline, “Wheatgrass is an excellent source of many different vitamins and minerals. It is especially high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron, magnesium, calcium, and amino acids…It also contains several important antioxidants, including glutathione and vitamins C and E.”
While this all sounds quite promising, what are all these vitamins and antioxidants good for specifically?
What is Wheatgrass Good For?
Wheatgrass’s antioxidant properties are its most helpful. In conjecture with a high-fat diet, wheatgrass may be good for lowering cholesterol. It was also found to “reduce oxidative damage in cells.” Said antioxidant properties may also lessen the risk of neurodegenerative disease, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. The latter is due to wheatgrass’s anti-inflammatory nature. Wheatgrass can also strengthen your immune system because of the same anti-inflammatory properties stemming from the plant’s chlorophyll, which gives it its pretty green color! It has also demonstrated the ability to stabilize red blood cells in those with a degenerative red blood cell disease, reducing the number of transfusions necessary to remain healthy.
Wheatgrass can not only reduce the risk of cancer but also reduce the related symptoms of chemotherapy.
So are there any downsides to wheatgrass? Well, according to the Cleveland Clinic, “Wheatgrass is generally considered safe to use. In some cases, you may experience nausea, appetite loss, and constipation.” When or if you integrate this supplement into your diet, it is important that you start slow! If experiencing any adverse effects, consult your dietitian or primary care provider to seek supplement options that suit your health needs.
Even if wheatgrass seems right for you, it’s important to consult with your doctor before drastically changing your diet. This is also the case if you have a preexisting gluten allergy. While wheatgrass is technically gluten-free, this depends primarily on how the wheatgrass was grown/how it was sourced.
Where Can I Get Wheatgrass?
Live wheatgrass can be accessible at your local grocery store, as well as wheatgrass powder. If you’d like to try growing wheatgrass on your own, seeds are easily available online as well. If supplements are more your style, these are also available online at Amazon and other small businesses.
We hope wheatgrass is the helpful hack you were looking for! Are you interested in more fad or hack blogs? Check out our last one on adrenal cocktails here!